Kaizer Chiefs captain Yusuf Maart can now focus on his role as the skipper of the Glamour Boys after he silenced his critics who attacked him when he was going through a rough patch.
The midfield workhorse was subjected to some harsh words by the unimpressed Chiefs supporters who questioned why Maart was in the starting line-up. And also how and why he was made captain of the side. Many supporters were not fans of his playing style and preferred other players to be on the starting XI.
Top-class half-volley
In the Nedbank Cup final against Orlando Pirates, Maart put in a double shift in the office. He even scored the winner with a top-class half-volley in the late stages of the match.
Maart talks about the psychological aspect of never giving up: “We had a tough start to the league. But as management, technical team and players, we managed to put in a good cup run to carry us through to the final. And with a great mentality, we brought it home,” he said on the club’s website.
“We haven’t had a great season in the league, and that is something we will have to improve on. But we all fought as a team and put a lot of work into bringing the Nedbank Cup back to Naturena. Cup games are different from league matches in a lot of ways. But mainly we want to build more consistency going forward.”
Challenging times in recent years
The 29-year-old midfielder, along with his teammates, endured challenging times in recent years.
“I became aware of how much it meant when I joined the club. And it wasn’t easy because of the pressure of knowing what is expected at Chiefs.”
Maart believes that he has overcome the tough times when things don’t go their way.
“I have worked my hardest from the first day. My first two seasons were not easy. But now in my third season, we have been rewarded with something great. Which is something I deeply appreciate,” he added.
